The new NHS: clinical commissioning groups

Part of The NHS after the Health and Social Care Act

Clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) are the cornerstone of the new health system. Each of the 8,000 GP practices in England is now part of a CCG. There are more than 200 CCGs altogether commissioning care for an average of 226,000 people each.

CCGs commission the majority of health services, including emergency care, elective hospital care, maternity services, and community and mental health services. From April 2015 many CCGs began to take on more responsibility for commissioning general practice in their area.

Related publications and slidepacks

Primary care co-commissioning

This slidepack presents the key findings from a survey of GPs in six clinical commissioning groups. The survey explored members' views of their CCG and its role in primary care.

Risk or reward? The changing role of CCGs in general practice

A report from the Nuffield Trust and The King’s Fund finds that CCGs risk becoming unsustainable without changes to the way they attract leaders and adequate funding to help them expand their remit.

Clinical commissioning groups: Supporting improvement in general practice?

The King's Fund and the Nuffield Trust are working together to assess the implementation and impact of CCGs. This first report provides an overview of developments through to March 2013.

Commissioning and contracting for integrated care

This report describes how CCGs in England are innovating with alternative approaches to commissioning and contracting as a way of driving integrated care.

Related blogs

Co-commissioning: a new relationship between GPs and their CCG

Co-commissioning has arrived. Today 64 CCGs take on fully delegated responsibility for commissioning general practice, while 87 CCGs take on joint commissioning responsibilities working with NHS England.

The best of times, the worst of times: a personal view from the CCG front line

What are some the challenges currently facing CCGs? John Richards, Chief Officer of NHS Southampton City CCG, shares his thoughts.

Can CCGs become accountable care organisations?

‘We need clinical commissioning groups to become accountable care organisations’ – that’s what Jeremy Hunt said recently in parliament. But what does this really mean and will it work in practice? Rachael Addicott gives her analysis.

Take care CCGs: it was the conflict of interest that tripped them up last time

In the past couple of weeks, ‘co-commissioning’ has emerged as the latest solution to the problems in primary care. But will it give patients, communities and clinicians ‘more clout’ in deciding how local services are developed, at a time when NHS finances are severely strained?

Leadership support

Top manager programme

A transformational five-week hybrid learning programme over five months aimed at those aspiring to become system leaders already leading across boundaries within or across organisations.

Building collaborative leadership across health and care organisations

Develop the skills and behaviours required to work with local leaders to redesign health and care systems.

Related content

Completed project

The evolution of clinical commissioning: learning from local experience

We worked with the Nuffield Trust to understand the development of CCGs and the challenges they face.

Lord Hunt on integrated care and commissioning

Video of Rt Hon The Lord Hunt of Kings Heath speaking on integrated care and commissioning at The King's Fund on 4 February 2015.

Stephen Dorrell on integrated care and commissioning

Video of Rt Hon Stephen Dorrell MP speaking on integrated care and commissioning at The King's Fund on 4 February 2015.

Paul Burstow on integrated care and commissioning

Video of Rt Hon Paul Burstow MP speaking on integrated care and commissioning at The King's Fund on 4 February 2015.

Chris Ham: Assessing the potential impact for innovative commissioning and contracting in the UK

Chris Ham discusses the key questions which need to be answered when developing payment systems for integrated care.

You may also be interested in

Clinical commissioning groups: Supporting improvement in general practice?

The King's Fund and the Nuffield Trust are working together to assess the implementation and impact of CCGs. This first report provides an overview of developments through to March 2013.

Should GPs be given statutory commissioning roles?

Many aspects of the NHS reforms have given rise to debate, but one of the most controversial has been whether GPs should have responsibility for commissioning.

Reshaping commissioning

With authorisation starting in October 2012, Chris Naylor asks how ready are the CCGs to take over the mantle of primary care commissioning.

The new-look Health and Social Care Bill: what are the next steps for clinical commissioning groups?

Paul Zollinger-Read asks if the pause in the Health and Social Care Bill is welcomed by clinical commissioning groups or do they want to get on with the NHS reforms?